"One-of-a-kind Secret Armenia" Top 5 Page for this destination Armenia by RaffiKojian

Armenia Travel Guide: 731 reviews and 1,995 photos

A mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a dolma

It's a blend of east and west, it's a mix of Soviet mentality and a free market capitalism that even Stalin was never able to squash, it's the only ancient culture left from Anatolia, it's the survivor of a genocide and attacks which left more Armenians outside of Armenia than inside, it maintains excellent relations with the US, Russia AND Iran, it has thousands of churches and monasteries yet almost no churchgoers, great views of Mt. Ararat but not the mountain, it has the Armenian Navy Band yet no sea, it is full of contradiction, yet makes a sense of its own. You have to go there to understand it, experience it and make sense of it.

Pros and Cons

Pros:infinite number of cafes, remote monasteries, unbelievably friendly people, mountain valleys, barbecues galore
Cons:too many smokers
In a nutshell:So much to see!

Last visit to Armenia: Aug 2008
Intro Updated Nov 24, 2008
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Reviews (16)

Mother church - more than meets the... Off The Beaten Path (8)

Echmiadzin, often called the Mayr Dajar (Mother Church or Temple) in Armenian is the heart of Armenian Christendom. The... more travel advice

Chamber carved out of mountains - Armenia

Monastery carved out of mountain - crazy... Off The Beaten Path (8)

The monastery of Geghard is an absolute must-see in Armenia. Just an hour from Yerevan, you cannot miss the experience... more travel advice

A 2,000 year old Roman Temple in... Off The Beaten Path (8)

Yep, around the time of Christ, the Armenian King Trdat agreed to go to Rome, where he would accept that Roman Emperor... more travel advice

Haghpat and Sanahin - UNESCO sites Off The Beaten Path (8)

Up in Lori Marz, along the deep canyon of the Debed River, on opposite cliffs are the Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries.... more travel advice

Restaurants (2)
See All Best barbecue in town!
Transportation (1)
Taxi - tips and warnings!
Things to Do (1)
Hot mineral baths...
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Comments (2)

xuxaBR Jan 17, 2012 at 7:14 AM Report Abuse

Again, what a collection of awesome pictures you have in this page!!
Love it!!
om_212 Feb 21, 2009 at 6:34 AM Report Abuse

hey stranger, remember me? what a pleasant surprise to see you here! guess what, i am finally going to visit your wondeful Armenia, and would appreciate tips of where to go, and what to see. best, olya